Becoming a part-time instructor

[luigi_m_]

I currently work in flight ops and am also a low-hour PPL(A), currently pleasure-flying on the 172 now and again. I want to stay working in operations, but I would like to become a part-time flying instructor as a way of flying as much GA (the best way) as possible, and giving me the chance to pass on my knowledge to budding young flyers without emptying my wallet every week to go flying.

As far as I understand, I need 150 hours (do all those have to be PIC?) before I can start my commercial license, I need my ATPL's, and then adding my FI(R) rating to my PPL, but I would like from you guys the cost of doing each of the above qualifications, the best way of going about it, and any other details you would like to stick in.

I obviously need to do some hour-building before I can start my CL, so I was thinking of doing an expedition in Spain next year if someone could offer some guideance on places/companies worth checking out.

The examiner who did my PPL skill test is also an instructor-instructor/examiner (but now based else-where, but lives near me), and after looking into instructor ratings, I thought it would be much cheaper to use my club's C172 or PA38, and "employing" the instructor I know to be my teacher; is this legitimate?

I'm looking forward to any information you guys can give me, cheers :ok:

[PAPI-74]

Becoming a part-time FI is going to burn money. You will never see any of it again.
At best, you will only earn £300 per month, depending on your input and it will cost you a huge amount.

Hour building 100hrs P1 (test is P1S and can be counted)

Ground school:do it full time or it will take ages and you may as well do the ATPL's unless you really don't want an IR. If you just do the CPL and want an IR, you have to take loads of exams again.

Guildhall University
Cranfield Aviation Training School
Cabair etc...all cater for this

Allow £2000-£3500 plus the exams at £60 each.

CPL course is £5500 plus flight test and aircraft hire

CPL issue £170 ish

FIC £5500-7000

About £18500 plus hour building and food / accom.

Add 10% for contingency too(20K all in).:ok:

Good luck......

pat...uk....com
sfc...co....uk

[easy307]

Minimum requirements to instruct :-

PPL + CPL theory + Instructors Rating

[Awesome_Welles]

I read something in Flight Training News a few weeks ago that suggested something would have to change soon. Flying instructors are an endangered species, the predatory airlines snapping them up and no one is going to spend that sort of money to become a poorly paid part-time instructor.

Here's the article I'm talking about.
(http://www.*****************/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=65&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=228&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2209&hn=ftnonline&he=.co.uk)

[chris_p]

Becoming a part-time FI is going to burn money. You will never see any of it again. At best, you will only earn £300 per month, depending on your input and it will cost you a huge amount.£300 a month for part time FI? I've heard instructors wages are relatively low, but surely not that low? That would mean that full time would be £600pm and roughly £7000pa. Does anybody have any other figures that would make it a bit more viable as a part-time career option, or does that amount sound about the average?

I'm just asking as I plan to do the same thing... ie: have a non flying job for half the week that brings in most of the money and part-time instruct for some extra money and for free flying!

[PAPI-74]

If you only get paid £15-20 per hour (flying).
2-4 hours a day, if you are lucky. £30-£80 (lessons between 30 min and 1.20 for rare nav ex's)
minus fuel to get there £8-10
2 days a week £240-£320 minus fuel and medicals / renewal of ratings etc...

You won't get paid for briefings as it is part of the lesson, but long briefs, i.e. the first nav ex is about a 2hr brief, you should get £20 for.

If the wx goes out of limits, which is usual, the lesson is binned after 20mins. This is common in the circuit if there is a Xwind and the student is trying to land. If he/she is almost solo and it is a bit gusty, why fly and burn his money.
Oct-Mar has some bad wx and good. Look at today. Mist and poor vis. Can't teach nav/stalls/effects of controls/ turning/ climbing/descending all needs a horizon or they will only get mad you made do with the conditions. The result is a student who spends 6 months in the ct because they can't fly straight and level. You may have got £20, but they have been stitched up....

[PAPI-74]

Full time is different.
Some schools pay a retainer £10-20 per day to cover your costs, then pay you £10-20 per hour.
Others will pay a salary £18,000 - £20,000

I was one of the salaried ones, but have also worked freelance for several schools.

As I said before, you will get out what you put in, but don't expect a fortune and take it out on the students when the wx is c##p! .....many do.